United States to play Portugal, South Korea, Poland

Posted: Sunday, December 02, 2001

By Ronald BlumAssociated Press

While the rest of soccer watched the World Cup draw, U.S. players pretty much slept through it.

The bulk of the American team was in Chula Vista, Calif., as opponents were drawn Saturday. It was about 3:30 a.m. PST when the United States was picked to play Portugal, Poland and host South Korea in next year's tournament.

''Everyone was given the option to get together for milk and cookies,'' forward Brian McBride said. ''Everybody choose to either wake up and check it on the Internet real quick or just sleep.''

Midfielder Chris Armas was the lone exception, asking team officials to rouse him as soon as the Americans' opponents were determined in Busan, South Korea, where it was 8:30 p.m.

U.S. players were pretty happy with the way it turned out. Portugal is ranked fourth in the world by FIFA, soccer's governing body. Poland is 33rd, South Korea 43rd.

''It's not bad. It could have been a lot worse,'' U.S. captain Claudio Reyna said in Scotland, where it was 11:30 a.m. and he was getting ready to play for his club, Glasgow Rangers. ''We can't complain too much.''

The United States is a combined 5-10-3 against the trio, but hasn't played Poland since 1990, Portugal since 1992, and South Korea since 1994.

The U.S. team, tied for 20th in FIFA's rankings, was the 28th of the 32 teams assigned to a group Saturday. At that point, there were five slots left, including four in Japan, where the Americans could have been put in Group F with Argentina, England and Sweden; or in Group E with Germany, Ireland and Saudi Arabia.

''I was quite relieved,'' U.S. coach Bruce Arena said from Busan. ''The draw gives us some optimism.''

Arena is almost positive his team will be based in Seoul, where it easily can travel to the games against Portugal (June 5 in Suwon), South Korea (June 10 in Daegu) and Poland (June 14 in Daejeon).

The Americans will play all their games in South Korea unless they advance to the final on June 30 at Yokohama, outside Tokyo. Given that the U.S. team finished last among 32 teams at the 1998 tournament in France, just getting to the second round is the goal.

''It's a good situation for us,'' midfielder Cobi Jones said. ''We definitely have an opportunity to move on to the next round.''

The toughest game is the opener. Portugal was 7-0-3 in qualifying and is led by Real Madrid midfielder Luis Figo, at the top of Arena's ballot for FIFA player of the year, and AC Milan's Rui Costa.

''The joke among some people is, 'Portugal is already celebrating,''' Arena said. ''Some people believe Portugal has an easy run out of our group.''

In South Korea, the Americans play a World Cup host nation for the first time since a 1-0 loss to Italy in 1990. The South Koreans, 0-10-4 in World Cup play, have two games coming up against the United States: a Dec. 9 exhibition at Seogwipo, and Jan. 19 at the Rose Bowl in the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

''The American team has a very high fighting level of spirit,'' South Korea coach Guus Hiddink said. ''We are not in the position to underestimate anyone.''

The Americans aren't taking any European-based players to next weekend's exhibition.

''I think the Gold Cup could be a realistic opportunity for as many of us as possible to get back and play against them,'' Reyna said.

Poland, like Portugal, is back in the World Cup for the first time since 1986. The leading Polish player is forward Emanuel Olisadebe, a Nigerian who became a Polish citizen last year and scored eight of his new nation's 19 goals in qualifying -- tied for third in Europe.

''They're all different styles,'' Reyna said. ''The Portuguese and South Koreans are probably the better technical sides. Poland is a more physical presence.''

Since returning to the World Cup in 1990 after a 40-year absence, the Americans have gone 1-8-1, including losses to Germany, Iran and Yugoslavia at the 1998 tournament in France.

To get ready for next year's tournament, Arena has scheduled exhibition games at Italy on Feb. 13, and at Germany on March 27. The final pre-World Cup tests for the Americans will be during the U.S. Cup tournament in May.

The coach just hopes all his injured players heal and the healthy ones don't get hurt.

''If we're able to do that and get two, three, four, five games with most of our better players on the field, we'll improve in all areas,'' Arena said.